Method of powering a precession toy



June 29, 1965 w. MARTIN 3,191,341

METHOD OF POWERING A PRECESSION TOY Filed Oct. 10. 1960 FIG. I FIG. 2

FIG. 3

INVENTOR. LYNN w. MARTIN FIG. 5

QAKMM ATTORNEY v United States Patent METHOD OF POWERING A PRECESSIONTOY Lynn W. Martin, 2633 Grail, Wichita, Kans. Filed Oct. 10, 1960,Ser.No. 61,745 2 Claims. (Cl. 46--65) This invention relates to toys,and in a more particular aspect to a top. Still more specifically, thisinvention relates to a construction of tops and to powering meanstherefor. Even more specifically, this invention relates to a newrelation between a top construction and a supporting surface therefor sothat the top can be powered by manipulation of the supporting surface.

Various types of toys and/or tops are known to the prior art. The priorart tops include various means for propelling or spinning the top, suchincluding stems or the like on the top body, or spring powered means forinitially spinning or rotating the top. In most instances the prior arttops and means for spinning same are capable of only initially impartinga spin to the top, and this spin is soon slowed or reduced in speed to apoint where it turns over and stops. The length of time the spin can bemaintained is primarily dependent upon the frictional forces between thespinning body and the stationary supporting surface, and for this reasonmost prior art top constructions are directed to' a top havingfrustro-conical sides terminating in a relatively sharp tip to contactthe supporting surface.

In accordance with the present invention new and improved top means areprovided and new power means are provided therefor to maintain the topspinning for an almost indefinite period of time. The top means of theinvention preferably includes a fairly large rounded end portion tocontact the supporting surface, such being diametrically opposed to mostof the prior art devices which have pointed tips. The top and poweringsurface of the invention are so constructed relative to each other sothat the surface can be manipulated by rocking or wobbling the poweringsurface with the top spinning thereon so as to maintain the spin of thetop for an extended period of time. The manipulation of the supportingsurface continually changes the relation between the spinning axis ofthe top and the axis of the supporting surface and the spinning will bemaintained until the powering surface is placed at rest.

In a preferred specific embodiment of the top of the invention, a top isprovided which includes a body portion intermediate the ends thereof andterminates in one end portion in a round end to contact the supportingand powering surface. The other end portion preferably has a stem formedthereon to permit the top to be initially spun. In other preferredspecific embodiments of the invention, the stem portion is eliminatedand the body portion of the top can be hollowed, thus changing the massand the spinning characteristics of the top. The powering and supportingsurfaces of the invention can be of various configurations, adish-shaped or fiat surface being preferred. The supporting surface isof such size as to permit an annular path to be traversed by thespinning top as the surface is manipulated to power and continue themovement of the top. thereon.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide new top means.c

Another object of the invention is to provide a new top and supportingand powering surface therefor to maintain the spinningtop in rotationfor extended periods of time.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a new topconstruction and a supporting surface therefor which can be manipulatedto continue the spin of the top thereon.

1 ing techniques.

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A still further object of the invention is to provide a new relationbetween a top and the surface on which it spins.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new method formaintaining a top in a spinning relation.

Various other objects, advantages and features of the invention willbecome apparent from the following description taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross section view through a dish-shaped powering surfaceshowing the top of FIG. 2 in operation thereon.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross section view of a preferred construction ofthe top of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross section view through a flat powering surface showingthe top of FIG. 4 in operation theron.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross section view of another preferred specificembodiment of the top of the invention.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross section view through a still furtherembodiment of the top of the invention.

The following is a discussion and description of pre ferred specificembodiments of the new top and powering means of the invention, suchbeing made with reference to the drawings whereon the same referencenumerals are used to indicate the same or similar parts and/orstructure. It is.to be understood that such discussion and descriptionis not to unduly limit the scope of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the top constructions of theinvention are constructed so that they can be placed and spun on asupporting surface and the supporting surface can be manipulated so thatthe top can be maintained thereon in a spinning relation. Oneconstruction of such a top is shown generally at 9 in FIGS. 1 and 2 ofthe drawings and preferably includes an intermediate cylindrical portion10 intermediatethe ends. One end portion of the top tapers inwardly asshown at 12, preferably in a gradual arcuate manner, and terminates in alarge spherical tip 14 which is centered in relation to the cylindricalportion 10 of the top. The tip 14 is preferably relatively hard. Theother end portion of the top is reduced in diameter to form a stem 16which is coaxial with the intermediate portion 10.

The entire top is preferably made of a suitable plastic material and canbe integrally formed by common mold- In other instances, it will bedesirable to cut or shape the top from a single block of plastic rod orthe like. Other materials, such as wood, metals, glass and the like canbe used, if desired. Also in some instances it will be desirable to formthe top of separate parts rather than being integrally formed as shownin the drawings. For example, the cylindrical body portion 10 and stem16 can be formed of a plastic or wood material and the spherical tipportion 14 can be formed of a hard plastic material, glass or the likeand secured thereto.

Another preferred embodiment of the top of the invention is shown inFIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings. The top, shown generally at 20, includesa cylindrical upper portion 22 and a spherical end or tip portion 24.The portion of the top 20 joining the cylindrical portion 22 and the tipportion 24 can be tapered as shown at 26. The tapered portion 26 can beeither arcuate as shown in FIG. 2 or frusto-conical as shown in FIG. 4.In this embodiment of the top, the top is' preferably hollowed as shownat 28, the hollow 28 being coaxial with the cylindrical portion 22. ,Thehollow 28 not only reduces the drical portion 22 and tapered portion 26can be formed of Wood, plastic, metal or the like and the tip port-ion24 can be separately formed from suitable materials and secured theretoby the use of adhesives or the like. The spherical tip end portion 24 ispreferably relatively hard for contact with the supporting and poweringsurface.

A still further preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG.of the drawings whereon the top is shown generally at 30. The top 30includes a cylindrical portion 32 which is relatively short and ishollowed as shown at 34. The hollow portion 34 is concentric or coaxialwith the outer portion 32. A spherical tip portion 36 is provided tocontact the supporting surface and is centered in relation to thecylindrical portion 32. The top 30 is also preferably formed of plasticmaterials, though here as in the previous embodiments described, othermaterials can be used, if desired, and the tip portion 36 can beseparately formed and secured thereto in any suitable manner.

. The supporting and powering surfaces desirable for use with theinvention can be of various types. FIG. 1 of the drawings shows adish-shaped supportingsurface 40 which can be of plastic, glass,.orother material, and preferably has a relatively hard finish on thecontacting surface. FIG. 3 of the drawings show a relatively flatsupporting surface 42 which also has a relatively hard supporting orcontacting surface. Both of the surfaces 40 and 42 are of such size andweight that they can be easily moved or manipulated by the user.

In use, a top of the type described hereinabove is placed in rotationabout its own axis by twisting the stem or cylindrical portion therofwith the spherical, end portion in contact with the supporting surface40 or 42. The supporting surface 40 or 42 is then manipulated so thatthe top thereon is caused to move in a circuit or path in the samedirection as the direction of spin of the top as illustrated in FIGS. 1and 3 of the drawings. This can be done by lowering first one edge orside of the supporting surface and then the other to rock or wobble thesupporting surface so that the top is continually moving in a down hilldirection in relation to the surface. The axis of the spinning top willthus be in skew relation and continually changing in skew relation tothe axis of the supporting surface and the movement of the top in itsannular path on the supporting surface will maintain the top spinningfor an almost indefinite period of time, depending upon the skill of theoperator. The maximum sizeof the supporting surface is determined by theability of an individual to manipulate same in relation to the specifictop being used thereon so as to maintain the top in a continually movingmanner. The minimum size of the supporting surface is that which willenable the top to be spun thereon in the circuit or path and is variablewithin the skill of the art depending upon the size and construction ofthe top.

The exact shape or size of the top which can be powered in this manneris variable and the exact mathematical relation and dimensions have notbeen theoretically ascertained. Tops of the construction shown in FIGS.2, 4 and 5 have been experimentally constructed and found to bedesirable for this use. A number of variable properties of these topsare believed to enter into the motion of the top and cause some shapesor constructions to be desirable while others are unsatisfactory. Forexample, the moment of inertia about the spin axis of the top has someinfluence in maintaining the top spinning.

At the same time, there must be sufficient friction between thesesurfaces so that the top will not slide thereon during movement of thesupporting surface. The radius of the spherical end portion also effectsthe desirability of any top in this action, the spherical end portionbeing of such radius as to avoid a sharp point like tip. A diameter of Ato of an inch has been found desirable in this regard. The precessionrate is also a factor in the performance of the top, and this ratedepends on the before-mentioned factors as well as the revolutions perminute and the degree of lean of the top as it spins on the supportingsurface. As the top moves about the powering surface, it will leantoward the center of the powering surface. While. the maximum size ofthe supporting and powering surface is determined primarily upon theability of one to move the surface, the minimum size thereof isprimarily limited by the size and construction of the individual top,such minimum size being determined by experimentation with anyparticular top. The movement of the top on the supporting surface isalso effected to a minor extent by windage losses.

In the examples shown in the drawings, the tops of FIGS. 2, 4 and 5 havebeen constructed having diameters at the cylindrical portions of fromapproximately one-half to one and one-half inches and approximatelyone-half to one and one-half inches in height. The size of thesupporting surface indicated as dish-shaped member 40 can be that of thecommon plate, that is from approximately 8 to 10 inches in diameter. Thesame size has been found satisfactory in the case ofthe fiat supportingsurface 42. Generally. speaking, the tops shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5 areapproximately as high as they are wide with the major portion of themass and the center of gravity being in the lower half of each top.While the shape and sizes of the various members shown in the drawingshave been experimentally tried and found suitable and desirable, it isto be understood that these dimensions and/ or shapes are intended toillustrate and describe the means for providing a surface poweredprecession top and the method of using same and are not intended tolimit the scope-of the invention.

The method of the invention consists of maintaining a top spinning byplacing same on a dish-shaped or generally flat surface and initiallymanually spinning same. The supporting and powering surface is thenmanipulated by alternately lowering and raising first one side or edgeand then the other to rock or wobble the powering surface so that thetop thereon is generally moving in a down hill direction around thesupporting and powering surface, preferably in anannular path thereon.

The use of the top and the supporting surface therefor permits a new useof top structures and provides an interesting and novel means ofpropelling same. The constructions and methods of the invention providea new form of amusement which is not easily tired of, as well asdeveloping coordination in the use of the hands and arms, particularlywhen used by children. As one be comes skilled in using the supportingsurface to propel the Also, the location of the center of gravity of thetop I top thereon, the various shaped surfaces, such as the dish-shapedone shown in FIG. 1 can be used to vary the movement of the top thereon,even to the extent of throwing the top into the air and catchingsame onthe lip of the dish-shaped surface or another surface.

As will be evident to those skilled in the art, various modifications ofthis invention can be made, or followed, in the light of thisdescription and discussion, without departing from the spirit of thedisclosure or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. The method of powering a spinning top comprising the steps of,spinning a top having a spherically shaped tip on a movable surface thatis large in comparison to the major diameter of the top, manipulatingthe movable surface by rocking same to obtain and maintain a continually changing skew relation between the spin axis of said top andthe axis of said' surface to thereby cause said spinning top to move insubstantially an annular path on said movable rocking surface in thesame direction as the direction of rotation of said top, continuouslypositioning the movable surface so that said top continually moves in adownhill direction on said surface under the influence of gravitywherein a torque is applied to the spherical shaped tip suificient toovercome normal friction and windage losses.

2. A method of powering a spinning top comprising, spinning a top havinga spherical shaped lower tip on a tiltable surface, subsequentlyimparting a wobbling motion to the tiltable surface to thereby maintaina continually changing skew relationship between the spin axis of thetop and the axis of the tiltable surface, thereby maintaining a rollingpoint contact along a locus of points lying in an annulus on thespherical shaped tip and moving the top in a generally annular path,correlating the annular movement of the top and the wobbling motion ofthe tiltable surface to maintain the spinning top on a downwardly angledsurface portion to cause same to roll downwardly under the influence ofgravity to thereby apply a torque to the spinning top suflicient toovercome normal friction and windage losses.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,112,182 3/38Tintore 4664 2,318,793 5/43 Pait 273109 2,46 8,567 4/49 McBride 273-1092,700,246 1/55 Ostberg 4664 2,906,057 9/59 Sullivan 4664 3,025,632 3/ 62Brooks et al. 4665 FOREIGN PATENTS 53 8,120 3/57 Canada.

DELBERT B. LOWE, Primary Examiner.

ELLIS E. FULLER, EVON C. BLUNK, Examiners.

1. THE METHOD OF POWERING A SPINNING TOP COMPRISING THE STEPS OF,SPINNING A TOP HAVING A SPHERICALLY SHAPED TIP ON A MOVABLE SURFACE THATIS LARGE IN COMPARISON TO THE MAJOR DIAMETER OF THE TOP, MANIPULATINGTHE MOVABLE SURFACE BY ROCKING SAME TO OBTAIN AND MAINTAIN A CONTINUALLYCHANGING SKEW RELATION BETWEEN THE SPIN AXIS OF SAID TOP AND THE AXIS OFSAID SURFACE TO THEREBY CAUSE SAID SPINNING TOP TO MOVE IN SUBSTANTIALLYAN ANNULAR PATH ON SAID MOVABLE ROCKING SURFACE IN THE SAME DIRECTION ASTHE DIRECTION OF ROTATION OF SAID TOP, CONTINUOUSLY POSITIONING THEMOVABLE SURFACE SO THAT SAID TOP CONTINUALLY MOVES IN A DOWNHILLDIRECTION ON SAID SURFACE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF GRAVITY WHEREIN ATORQUE IS APPLIED TO THE SPHERICAL SHAPED TIP SUFFICIENT TO OVERCOMENORMAL FRICTION AND WINDAGE LOSSES.